Chapter 11

Kuki and Sandy had spent about two lunch hours together. He had made a habit of showing up at Burger Frenzy at lunch time with the hopes of finding Kuki on duty. On a cloudy Wednesday afternoon, he had insisted on walking her back to the campus after their meal. But since she had a bit of time on her hands, they took the longer route. They talked about their childhood days, and he blushed when she brought up the 'King Sandy' thing.

"Well, I can assure you I'm not here now to take you as my queen by force. No Siree," he said as he bobbed on the balls of his feet, his hands shoved in his pockets, "I'm gonna use old fashioned charm to reel you in."

"Sandy, you're like two years younger than me. It should even be illegal for me to be walking around with you," Kuki said with a heartfelt laugh. "But seriously, why don't you look for someone your own age, or slightly younger. Mushi maybe?" she added hopefully.

"No, at the end of the day, you're the one for me," he said as he adjusted his glasses with his index finger.

"I am sorry, but I am very much in love with Wally. And that is not gonna change. No amount of charm will win me over," she said before adding, "Wallabee means the world to me." She hoped what she was saying was sinking into his skull and beyond.

He did not respond. She looked at him, wondering if she had hurt the poor boy too badly. His gaze was fixated at something or rather, someone further down the street, and his face had grown serious. He had not seen Wallabee in many years, but Sandy was almost a hundred percent sure that that was him down the street. That gait is definitely Wally's, he thought as he observed the situation occurring before them.

Kuki followed Sandy's gaze which led to a black sedan with tinted windows. It was parked at the entrance to an alley. In the alley stood a young blond fellow, his messy hair and side profile confirming he was Kuki's boyfriend. Another man, taller, leaner and definitely some years older than Wally walked up to him. His skin was very pale, and he had jet black hair that was greased back. He wore what was clearly a very expensive suit.

Kuki's breath caught in her lungs when she saw what happened next. She would have never believed it had she did not seen it with her own eyes. The strange man, his face now only a few inches away from Wally's, raised his hand and caressed her boyfriend's right cheek. He then held Wallabee's head firmly as he brought his mouth to his, planting butterfly kisses on them. The man then took a step back, looking at Wally before entering the black vehicle. By the time the car sped off, Kuki was nowhere in the vicinity, having ran back in the direction she had come from. All Sandy could do was watch her leave, his mind racing as he tried to grasp what he had just seen.

xxx

"What the fuck is going on?" Pauline asked herself as she stood at the other end of the alley, initially on her way to work. She felt a headache coming as she got stressed on Wally's behalf. That was not normal, she thought. When that man in the suit was kissing him, she could see that Wally was not into it at all. His body language was not consistent with the love he was receiving. It's none of my business, but I've gotta find out what is going on.

xxx

Mr. Lincoln, in his different time zone, was lying in his bed, his fingers interlaced under his head. He stared at the ceiling for several minutes like he had done for the past few nights before he was finally too tired to stay awake. Even tonight sleep won't come easy, he thought wearily. He turned his head to the left, facing where his wife always lay faithfully beside him for twenty six years. Her spot was now empty, his only bedfellow being the memories and regrets of his life. He turned to lie on his side and pulled the covers up to his chin. He shut his eyes, willing sleep to take over his consciousness. But the guilt rang in his mind loud and clear, keeping sleep at bay for another two hours.

xxx

At the clothing store, business had been a little slow that afternoon. Pauline appreciated it as her mind kept going back to what she had seen. She had lots of theories, what with her overactive imagination. But, it is possible that that guy is Wally's guy. Maybe he's just realized what he really wants…what's right for him. But if that was true, why did she doubt it so much. She sighed as she massaged her temples with her finger tips. She closed her eyes as she enjoyed the rotating motion of her fingers against her head.

"Ahem."

Pauline opened her eyes, and took a second to focus before she realized who was standing before her. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "Please, just…just leave," she added pleadingly.

Her lecturer stood on the opposite side of the counter. He looked at her, and she felt his eyes see right through her. "You've been avoiding me," Mr. Wyatt said, voice low and deep.

For the past week and a half, she did not spare an extra second in her classroom after the students were dismissed. She had noticed how he had been discreetly looking at her with hopes that she would hang back a little so that the other students could leave, thereby giving them a chance to talk. But he had had no such luck. So he took matters into his own hands, and there he was, in her store, where she could not run away. "Sir," she began before he interjected rather rudely.

"I told you its Kev," he said strongly.

"Kev," she said slowly, with obvious displeasure, "I am your student. You are my teacher. We cannot do what we did. It should never have happened. I take partial responsibility, and…"

Mr. Wyatt interrupted her again. "Are you honestly not intrigued by me as I am by you?" he asked, his dark brown eyes desperately searching hers. She could have sworn she heard a hint of fear in his voice. Fear of what, rejection?

Of course she was intrigued. He had behaved like an ass all that time, but that day when they kissed, she had seen something in his eyes. They were different from what he always tried to portray. It wasn't just lust that she saw, there was something else. Was it sorrow? A plea of sorts, maybe? She wasn't sure, but she was dying to find out. And it had nothing to do with the fact that she was a psych major. She didn't want him as a project; she really did want to know him. The him behind the façade.

"I am…fascinated by you, to say the least. But we find ourselves in a situation that is not conducive to developing this, uh…fascination," she finally said.

He moved closer to the counter and placed his palms flat on it after throwing his jacket across it. He took a deep breath and screwed his mouth in thought before he spoke. "Go on a date with me."

Pauline rolled her eyes in frustration. "Did you not hear a single thing that I've just said?" she asked. "You could get fired if the Dean found out. I'd probably be expelled! My case being more likely to occur than yours."

Kev rose his index finger in the air and shook it gently as he looked for the right words to say. "Just…one date. If after that you're still not convinced to give us a chance, then so be it," he said with a shrug. As she remained silent, he tilted his head and pleaded, "Please?"

This, right here, is the real Mr. Wyatt, she thought, the one who's not hiding behind his supposed cocky arrogance. "Ok. We'll go for an evening movie sometime."

"I'd like that," he replied as he flashed his pearly whites.